Thinking about visiting a pick-your-own farm? Here’s what you need to know.
Fill up your basket with blueberries and raspberries — but don't forget to bring your mask.
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The season for filling up cartons of freshly picked fruit is upon us, as pick-your-own farms across Massachusetts have opened their fields for personal plucking. But as the coronavirus pandemic continues to alter our everyday routines, farms have had to adapt — and the experience of picking your own strawberries, blueberries, and wild flowers looks vastly different this year.
To help farms navigate their on-site picking activities during COVID-19, the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) released guidelines that range from social distancing to eliminating produce samples. While protocols at different farms may vary, here are a few rules and regulations to expect during your next pick-your-own produce outing.
Social distancing is still the norm:
Farm visitors are encouraged to stay six feet away from others while out in the fields. You’ll likely find signs around the property reinforcing this reminder, while some farms go a step further and require reservations (the MDAR states that “farms should ensure that no more than 30 percent, or 114 customers, of total allowance per acre, is allowed into PYO areas at any one time”). Farms are also not allowed to host agricultural tourism events such as hay rides, farm tours, and mazes, as enforcing the six-foot rule is harder to do with these activities.
Masks are required:
Farms aren’t an exception to the mask rule — both staff and customers are required to wear face coverings while on the farm’s property. “This is particularly important for certain PYO crops that place customers in close proximity to produce on the plant,” the MDAR guidelines state. Staff must also wear disposable gloves at all times.
Eating in the fields is forbidden:
Thinking about popping a blueberry into your mouth after you’ve picked it? That’s not allowed. In an effort to minimize the risk of contamination during pick-your-own activities, the MDAR states that customers should not be allowed to eat produce in the fields. Farms should also eliminate produce samples.
Keep your own containers at home:
The MDAR forbids the use of reusable harvest bags, containers and/or boxes, and suggests that farms hand out harvest containers while guests are registering. “Customers are not allowed to bring with them or utilize reusable bags during PYO activities on the farm,” the guidelines state.
Sanitization is key:
Not only must farms continuously sanitize their own check-in stations, equipment, credit card readers, and other surfaces, but they must also provide hand washing stations for both staff and guests. The guidelines note that “hand sanitizer stations can be useful, though should not be used as a replacement for hand washing stations.”
Stina Cofsky, who works as the store manager at Ward’s Berry Farm in Sharon, said that guests have, for the most part, been understanding about all the new rules.
“Obviously they’re required to wear masks in the field and use hand sanitizer, and they’re not allowed to eat anything in the field,” she said. “We’re also limiting the number of people in the field and trying to keep it as spaced out as possible for social distancing. There are lines at times, unfortunately, but we’re trying to get them to move as quickly as possible, so people have been understanding about that and pretty patient with us as we try to get them into the field. Some people have given us issues [and refused to put a mask on], but we have supplied them with masks that they had to wear in the field.”
While Ward’s Berry Farm is currently offering strawberries, blueberries, and wild flowers, it had to do away with its hay rides and close down a barn that was previously used by a 4-H group. The farm has seen a dip, too, in attendance.
“I think there has definitely been less [visitors], but I also feel like there’s not much to do right now, so this is something exciting that people can get out and do,” Cofsky said. “They feel safer because it’s outside.”
Interested in visiting a pick-your-own farm? Here are 10 that are currently open for gathering strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, flowers, and more:
- Autumn Hills Orchard (495 Chicopee Row, Groton; 978-448-8388)
- Boston Hill Farm (1370 Turnpike St., North Andover; 978-681-8556)
- Brooksby Farm (54 Felton St., Peabody; 978-531-7456)
- Derrick Farm (301 Sanders Rd, Oakham; 508-882-5591)
- George Hill Orchards (582 George Hill Rd., Lancaster; 978-365-4331)
- Gianetti’s U-Pick Blueberries (557 Union St., Franklin; 508-528-9430)
- Nourse Farm (70 Nourse St., Westborough; 508-366-2644)
- Smolak Farms (315 South Bradford St., North Andover; 978-682-6332)
- Tangerini’s Spring Street Farm (139 Spring St., Millis; 508-376-5024)
- Ward’s Berry Farm (614 South Main St., Sharon; 781-784-3600)
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